Letters to the Editor: Mayor Breed brings hope to SF

Although I could not vote for Mayor London Breed, since I am not a resident of San Francisco but only work here, I did support her election. Not because she is black and a woman, but because she would deal with the homeless street problem and add police to the streets of San Francisco. Traffic in the city is a disaster. The “traffic” people are incompetent. Intersections are blocked and the “traffic” people are either not there, sitting in or standing by their buggies, unable to manage the cars, standing on the street-side drinking out of paper cups or looking at their cell phones and tablets.

Hopefully, Mayor Breed will deal with the traffic problems by assigning the police to direct traffic and alleviate the traffic mess.

Thomas Harbinson, Ross

Waste of money

Regarding “Oakland settles suit by ex-Black Panther,” July 12: As a resident of Oakland, I resent that my tax dollars must go to pay a $2.2 million judgment because of the criminal behavior of Councilwoman Desley Brooks. I suggest that the money come annually from Brooks’ district allocation until all the judgment is satisfied. Let’s see how the residents of her district like the absence of any funds for her district projects.

If they don’t like it, then don’t re-elect her.

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Speaks for many

I applaud the anonymous person who placed the full-page advertisement regarding her downtown experience. In few words she was able to express the frustration that many, if not most, of the city’s lifelong and long-term residents have. Rather than advancing a foreign policy, our elected and appointed local officials should address the local issues which obviously perplex them: homelessness, traffic, congestion, Muni, mental health care, public safety, affordable housing, etc.

Elected and appointed officials: Do what you are supposed to do; develop solutions to resolve our serious local problems.

Jim Murphy, San Francisco

Better responses

I am not sure I can articulate how appalled I am at the gross lack of compassion featured in your page 3 advertisement on July 13. The most horrifying thing was the complete lack of recognition that a fellow human was in distress. If you are personally unable to assist, please reach out for someone that can help. Spend your money helping! Spend your money to spread the word about how to help. It is totally understandable to be nervous in an unfamiliar situation, and absolutely OK for you to get to a place that you feel safe. But then act if someone is in distress or find someone that can.

If you aren’t willing to productively participate, then you need to live and let live. To help: Read The San Francisco Chronicle’s list of How You Can Help on its website. A directory of nonprofit groups that need donations of specific items or volunteer help. And if you are personally in danger, call 911 or the police non-emergency line at 415-553-0123.

Keep it handy, and watch out for each other.

Julia Gunderson, Mountain View

It’s about time

Congratulations to the “Fed Up Populace Campaign.” Someone finally spoke the truth.

Janice Warren, San Rafael

The fear factor

The full-page ad paid for by the “Fed Up Populace Campaign” tells the tale of someone consumed by the fear of what a nearby poor person might do, claiming her quality of life was seriously compromised while having a sandwich. Thank this woman for me for clarifying how fear alone, and a compliant press, is driving policy.

Carol Denney, Berkeley

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Martin Kahn, Oakland

Don’t blame judge

Susan Gluss’ otherwise splendid article (“There’s no ‘good-guy’ visa for any immigrant,” Open Forum, July 12) may leave the unintentional impression that the immigration judge acted callously when turning down Antonio’s efforts to avoid deportation because the hardship his American kids would suffer as a result is nothing out of the ordinary.

Don’t blame the judge. She was compelled to follow the 1996 law signed by Bill Clinton (with support from Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif.), which demands a ridiculous exceptional and extremely unusual hardship to a child that would enable a parent to qualify for legal status. Only a few are able to satisfy such a high threshold, no matter how deserving the parent.

On enactment of the law, Clinton and Feinstein promised to fix such draconian provisions later. Indeed!

Donald Ungar, San Francisco

Republican traitors

With few exceptions, all Republicans in Congress, the House and Senate, can now be considered traitors to their country. End of story.

Noelle Robbins, Alameda

Execute him

One problem with capital punishment is that it gives murderers a soapbox on which to pontificate. If condemned inmate Kevin Cooper (author of “America’s long fascination with death penalty justice,” Insight, July 14) were serving a life sentence without parole, we wouldn’t be aware of his vile rants.

I hope he is eventually executed because he is guilty of murdering four people after he escaped from prison in 1983. Gov. Jerry Brown should allow Cooper’s execution to proceed once it’s been scheduled but, in the age of Trump, I’ve gotten used to politicians on both sides of the aisle making the wrong decision.

Scott Wallace, Leesburg, Va.

Rule of law prevails

In “Above the law” (Letters, July 13), the writer finds fault in the contention that a U.S. president cannot be indicted, because “nobody is above the law.” What if, as numerous excellent legal minds have concluded, “the law” says that the president can’t be indicted?